I'm finding it hard putting what I thought about this book into words! I read it knowing nothing about it apart from accolades, and I really enjoyed reading it without any pre-conceived plot notions. It starts off in England, where an Australian serviceman meets an English woman, Ada while convalescing from a wound received during the Great War. They marry, and go to live in Australia in a tiny settlement on the southern coast of Western Australia where they raise their two daughters and try to carve out a life for themselves by clearing the bush and farming. But Frank has no luck, and Ada "couldn't take the life".

But that's just the scene setting for the story of their daughter, Edith, who ends up travelling through Europe during World War 2, looking for the man she loves. And that's the end of my plot summary, I don't want to give too much away.

The book spans decades and continents and generations; covers all my favourite big themes: death, life, family, love; is filled with well developed characters that may only flit past briefly; has a good plot; and is well written.

What more can one want from a book? ( )

Wonderful exciting historical novel! Suspenseful and informative, introspective and yet objective, excellent! ( )

An absolutely beautiful novel that follows Edith, the daughter of a British First World War Soldier from her immigrant home in Western Australia through her own war in 1940's Australia, London, Turkey, Armenia and Iraq. The clear skies and heat of the Australian bush glimmer on the pages in the constant memory of Edith on a journey to find her love and escape her lonely life. ( )

Very interesting--set in Armenia during WWII, where the main character goes from Australia in search of her son's father. The writing is spare, but good, and the setting is unusual. ( )